46 replies to this topic

[The Other Others]

Foxhound, on 09 August 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

Does Varys ever reveal any "how could he possibly know that" information about anything outside of King's Landing? Because I would imagine he just relies on regular paid informants like Jorah Mormont. And while it's hard to know what exactly Varys knows since he isn't telling the council everything, he never demonstrates insider knowledge on things like the Ironborn plans.

But that's because any outsiders on the iron islands stick out like a sore thumb and I doubt any of the Ironborn would do any spying.

[Gobiel]

It might explain as well the part of Varys,during Tryrion's trial (he has all the conversations exactly written on paper).
Anyway... beeing hidden in walls with quill and ink, waiting to overhear conversations... that is not an existence for a child. (especially when Varys complains about how it is always the peasants who are hurt the most during the game of thrones :/)

[Kiss of Fire]

Targaryen Northman, on 09 August 2012 - 05:05 PM, said:

they are actual birds and spiders that varys wargs into

I think he is warging the children.

[Frey family reunion]

Kiss of Fire, on 12 March 2013 - 05:47 PM, said:

I think he is warging the children.

Either he is or a certain fat Magister whose job it is to round these children up.

My guess is these children were being used even before Varys entered into service at the Red Keep.  Then Varys and Illyrio called them little mice because they were akin to mice living within the walls of the keep.  Once Varys became a "servant" of the crown he changed their name to birds to give the impression his spies were giving him info from across the sea and Westeros, however I think Varys spy network has almost been exclusively spies within the walls of the red keep.

[Baelor Swyft]

Thunderfist, on 01 May 2012 - 01:32 PM, said:

they are just kids (orphans probably) who Illyrio and Varys have trained to act as their spies.

butterbumps!, on 01 May 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

with their tongues cut out to prevent information leaks.

Apple Martini, on 01 May 2012 - 01:43 PM, said:

who are (it's implied) killed when their usefulness runs out.

And some people still think Varys is just doing what's necessary for the good of the realm...

[Manfryd Lothston]

Just had a wild idea... What if the "little birds" become the Silent Sisters?

I know, killing them off seems more expedient, but there was always something about the silent sisters that was off-putting. I couldnt shake the notion that they are not entirely what they appear. They have that covenient practice of hiding their faces; rumours abound how they don't have tongues; they travel the country freely as "a man would have to be a fool to lay hands on a silent sister"... And they are devoted to the Stranger, who is a god of death... Making them a repository of the eunuch's agents would be quite fitting, in my opinion.

It's either that, or they're a branch of the Faceless Men

Edited by Manfryd Lothston, 06 June 2013 - 08:09 AM.

[Scipio Africanus]

Manfryd Lothston, on 06 June 2013 - 07:56 AM, said:

Just had a wild idea... What if the "little birds" become the Silent Sisters?

Far more likely they are granted an early retirement by nuncle Varys and as a reward have their throats slit...

But to be more serious, I suspect that the few survivers become Illyrio's servants in his pad in Pentos. The way Tyrion describes those servants (mute, but seemingly able to understand Tyrion) makes me think this.